Pack-carrier.



F. G. HARRIMAN.

PACK CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.24,1909.

Patented June 20, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. G. HARRIMAN.

PACK CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED rnn.24.19o9.

Patented June 20, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. G. HARRIMAN.

PAGK CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED P138124, 1909.

Patented June 20; 1911.

SHBET 3.

3 SHEETS nu: NORRIE PEIERS cu, WASHINGION, n. c.

FREDERICK CHARLES HARRIMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PACK-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1911.

Application filed February 24, 1909. Serial No. 479,714.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK CHARLES HARRIMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pack-Carriers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a pack carrier for use by infantrymen, cavalrymen, guides and others.

This invention has two main objects first: to enable a soldier to carry his roll with ease while at the same time permitting free movement of the body and arms; and, secondly, to enable the soldier to carry his rifle with the roll in such wise that the rifle may be quickly detached for use either while the soldier is standing or while he is falling to or lying on the ground.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear View of my new pack carrier, in its preferred form, detached; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a device which is carried by one of the straps of the carrier and is adapted for engagement with a loop on another strap to support the rifle, but-t end up on the roll; Fig. 3 is a View showing the carrier roll and rifle in carrying position; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the carrier with the roll vertically in place; Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the device of Fig. 2 in its relation to the rifle, stock, lever, guard and trigger; and Fig. 6 is a view indicating the relations of the upper and lower ends of the device shown in Fig. 2 to the roll when the strap for the rifle stock is connected with that device.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the best modes known to me of applying that principle, 1, 1 indicate a pair of shoulder straps whose rear ends converge toward the spine of the wearer and are attached to a vertical flexible back-piece 2. The front lower ends of the shoulder straps are connected with the upper forward ends of the side straps 3, 3 which extend convergingly rearward to near the spine of the wearer, where they are attached to the lower end of the vertical backpiece 2, which is centrally disposed with re lation to the shoulder straps and side straps and extends up and down the back of the wearer from a point near the neck to the buttocks. Preferably, the lower front ends of the shoulder straps are adjustably connected to the upper front ends of the side straps by means of suitable buckles or coupling devices 4. lVhen this carrier is in place, the back-piece, extending, preferably, some little distance on each side of the wearers spine, protects the opposed portion of the uniform and affords additional warmth. and protection to the wearers spine.

The carrier also comprises a plurality of preferably horizontally disposed roll-engag ing straps 5, one mounted at and secured to the upper end of back-piece 2 and another mounted at and secured to the lower end thereof. By preference, another roll-engaging strap 5 is attached to the back-piece be tween its upperand lower end portions. To couple and uncouple the ends of the roll engaging straps, one end of each thereof conveniently provided with a buckle-like device 6, of any suitable construction. Of course, if the buckles are not desired, the ends of the roll-engaging straps may be tied together. The straps 5 are adapted to hold the roll R vertically in line with and op posed to the wearers spine, whereby the load is carried to the best advantage and the body and arms of the soldier left free for walking, jumping, running, falling and all other movements. The rearward convergence of the upper rear ends of the shoulder straps and the lower rear ends of the side straps coupled with the attachment of the upper and lower roll-engaging straps results in bringing the load or roll into the said supporting and carrying position, wherein the roll is held vertically in line with the spine, so that the lower part of the roll or pack may rest against the back, between the buttocks, as shown in the drawings.

An advantage of my invention is that it secures an even pull (one to the centrally disposed load) on both shoulders in marching and many other movements, during which the load is evenly distributed between the two shoulders, and partly sustained by the buttocks, if the roll is placed in the sling as shown; allowing free action of heart and lungs.

Referring to the second main feature of my invention, it is of course desirable that a soldier should be able to carry his rifle with ease, and at all times to have it readily accessible for use. In accordance with this second feature of my invention, the rifle is carried with the roll on the rearward side thereof, and preferably in line with the spine, butt end up. For this purpose, the upper roll-engaging strap 5 is provided with a rifle stock engaging strap 8 provided at its free end with a loop 9 which is adapted to engage with an upwardly extending finger 10 of a device (conveniently made of stout wire,) provided with strap passages 11 through which the strap 5 opposite the overlying strap 8 passes to hold the device vertically, that is, with the finger 1O upward. The device referred to, which is indicated by D for convenience, has the tongue or finger 10 extending upwardly from the strap passages 11, and also has a tang or down ward extension 12. The finger or tongue and the tang of the device 12 are preferably bent inwardly so as to rest against the roll R, as shown in Fig. 6. The tang 12 acts as a sort of lever to tip the upper end of the tongue or finger 10 against the roll and thereby prevent the ring or loop 9 from too readily slipping up and over the free end of the finger. The rifle shown, 13, is a Springfield, and has the usual lever end 14 projecting from one of its sides. To secure the rifle in place, its muzzle is thrust into the space formed between the loop 7 on the lower roll-engaging strap 5 and that strap, with its butt end up, after the roll is strapped in place. The stock-engaging strap 8 is then passed across the outer side of the rifle underneath the lever end 14, and then through the guard 15 below the trigger 16; and then the loop or ring 9 is carried over the upper end of the finger 10. The weight of the rifle thereupon holds the ring 9 on the finger, the rifle being supported partially by the contact of its lower end 14 on the upper edge of the stock-engaging strap 8 and partially by the barrel loop 7. The butt end of the rifle, thus mounted, may be reached by the soldier, who throws his arm over his shoulder, grasps the rifle, and whether in standing, falling or lying position, readily extracts the rifle by an upward or outward pull, such movement of the rifle automatically disengaging the ring 9 from the finger 10 and allowing the muzzle to be quickly pulled out of the barrel engaging loop 7 Indeed, it frequently happens that in the falling movement, following a quick run, the momentum of the rifle butt or stock during the forward falling movement is sufficient to automatically detach the ring 9 from the finger 10, "so that the soldier, falling upon the stomach, has the rifle grip practically at hand when reaching his fallen position. Irrespective of the rifle-carrying attachment, my carrier possesses the following conveniences: First: the weight is so evenly distributed up and down the back that the load almost ceases to be a burden. Second: the chest is absolutely unconstricted, and in marching the soldier is able to breathe with much greater freedom, and as though he had no pack on at all. Third: the haversack can be readily attached to the upper rollengaging strap, and can be readily taken off and attached to the belt when required, thus doing away with the flapping of the haversack against the leg of the soldier which is so annoying in marching.

Having thus set forth the best form of my invention now known to me, what I claim is 1. A pack-carrier comprising a vertical, flexible back-piece extending up and down the wearers back and provided at its upper end with divergent shoulder-straps and at its lower end with divergent side-straps; means for adjustably connecting the ends of the shoulder and side-straps forwardly of the side edges of the back-piece, and transverse roll-engaging straps attached to side edge portions of the back-piece and extensible on the rear side of the back niece.

2. The combination with a pack-carrier having shoulder and side straps and means for holding a roll vertically up and down the wearers spine, of a roll so held; and upper and lower gun-holding devices on the outer side of the roll and attached to the carrier; the upper gun-holding device comprising a vertical tang, a gun-engaging strap having a loop adapted to pass over said tang, and a downward extension adapted to press on the roll and hold the free end of the upper tang inwardly when the loop is on it and a gun is in place. 7 v

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK CHARLES HARRIMAN.

Witnesses:

E. S. BEACH, F. E. NARES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). G. 

